Ryan Dempster’s first choice is the Los Angeles Dodgers and his second is the Atlanta Braves, according to major-league sources.

Whether the veteran right-hander would allow the Cubs to trade him to another team could be determined in the next several days.

Dempster, as a player with 10 years of service, the last five with the same team, has the right to veto any deal.

The Cubs are trying to move him before his next start, sources say, but Dempster could delay the process by nixing potential trades before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

Dempster, 35, has spent his entire 15-year career in the National League, and is good friends with Dodgers left-hander Ted Lilly.

However, he will not necessarily play hardball.

Look if Dempster wants to come here to play hockey or Monopoly, he should probably look elsewhere. We could always use another arm, if we're not going to find a decent bat. But that arm will have to play hardball.